The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-10-21
ALLEN COUNTY.
A Brief But Accurate Description
Of It's Location, Topography,
Climate, Resources
And Society, Showing it to be One of
the Finest Counties in the Finest
State in the Union
And q Most Inviting Field for the Farmer,
Stock Raiser or Any One Wishing to
Acquire q Pleasant Home.

LocATIoN.-Allen County. Kan, is
socated in the southeastern part of the
State, being in the second tier of coun-
ties west of the Missouri line, and the
third from the Indian Territory on the
south. This is the best watered, best
imbered and in all respects the most
desirable portion of the State, and this
county is second to no other in all re-
spects. 1t is traversed from northwest
to southeast by the Neosho river,
which receives within the county a
number of considerable tributaries
from either side. The proximity of the
county to the great centers of trade
it being only five hours from Kansas
City and twelve hours from St Louis
will not be overlooked by those who
appreciate the advantage of a location
within easy reach of the best markets.
As will be seen by reference to the map
shown elsewhere, the county is ira
versed by several railroads, giving it
easy and direct connection with all the
large cities.
SOL.-The soil of the lowlands is the
deep black mold common to the allu-
vial bottoms everywhere and needs no
further description. That of the up
land prairies Isl deep, rich, calcareous
loan, from dark red to black in color,
from one to three feet deep. Its fertil-
ity is practically ineNhaustible, since
the subsoil for an indefinite depth is
equally rich.
WAIER.-Besides the streams men,
toned, there are innumerabie ravines
and branches traversing the prairies in
every direction, which furnish stock
water the year round, so that there are
few sections upon some part of which
water may not be found. Water for
domestic purposes may be found every
where by sinking to a moderate depth
and there are occasional springs. The
water in both wells and springs is pure
and good.
CLIMATE.-The climate is very SINH
lar to that in the same latitude (37 de-
grecs) farther east, except that the sur
face being comparatively level and
open. the temperature responds more
readily to changes in the currents of
air than in wooded or billy regions.
For the same reason the heats of sum-
mer are not oppressive. being tenn
pered by constant breezes, while the
cold of winter is never intense. The
effect of these constant breezes was es-
pecially observable during the past
summer, as shown by the fact that not
a single sunstroke was reported in
the State, although the season
was unusually warm. The cool
nights that follow even the most OPP
prcssive days, are n marked feature of
this locality. The close, sweltering
nights of some of the Eastern States
are unknown here. At the same
time the summers are long, giving a
growing season that often extends
over nearly six months, while the win
tiers are as short and mild rs is consist
Cnt with the highest productiveness of
the soil and the continued health and
vigor of Northern people.
HEALrH.-When the county was
FIRST settled it was infested more or less
with malarious diseases, as is every
new and fertile country. As the soil
was broken up and drained, however,
these maladies became less frequent and
cases of fever and ague are now of
rare occurrence. Other forms of dis
case are comparatively rare. and pull
monary complaints almost unknown.
In a word there is no healthier region
outside the mountains of Tennessee.
TIMBER, FENCING AND FUELS be-
fore animated, the timber is confined
to the valleys of the streams. 1t con-
sists of the usual varieties of hard wood
oak. walnut. hickory. blackberry,
etc. In the early days this was used
for all purposes. but since the construc-
ton of railroads into the county pine
Is used almost exclusively for building
purposes. being both cheaper and bet
ter, and the native timber is reserved
for fuel Coal is also used extensive
ly, as it can be obtained for from ten
to sixteen cents per bushel. In the
matter of fuel, therefore, we are much
more fortunate than the western part
of the State, where the only depend
ence is on coal transported long dis
tances by rail-. For fencing barb wire
is now used almost entirely, although
many prefer pine boards or stone.
PRoDUcTIoNs.-Afte what we have
raid of the soil. a farmer will not re-
guire to be told much about the pro-
auctions. They consist of every thing
that can be produced in this latitude,
and all grow in the greatest perfection.
The soil is loose. friable and easily cul-
tirated. and all kinds of grains and
vegetables cen be produced with much
less labor and expense than in any of
che older States. Of course, however.
corn is The principal crop; and the sue
cess with which it can be raised even
in an unfavorable year is shown by the
fact that this is one of only twenty two
counties in the entire State that will
have surplus this season, according
10 the report of the State Board of Ag-
riculture. Oats is a successful crop,
often yielding sixty bushels to the
acre. Millet and all kinds of tame